Virtual
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Excerpt from Blood Sweat and Fears: Medical Practitioners and Medical Students of South Australian who Served in World War 1. Courtesy of the Authors

Patrick Cockburn was born on 2nd May 1888 in Wirrabara, South Australia the son of Tom Cockburn and Alice, nee Battern.  His father was the brother of Sir John Cockburn KCMG, who at the age of 38 years, was the Premier of South Australia from 1888 to 1890. His father owned a large property “Lorraine” just outside of Wirrabara.  He was educated at St Peter’s College, Adelaide. His parents took him out of school to work on their property: however he insisted that he wanted to study medicine, so they reluctantly let him return to St Peter’s College to matriculate and he then studied medicine at the University of Adelaide graduating in 1914. He became the resident medical officer at the Broken Hill and District Hospital from March 1915 and in December of that year was the Acting Surgeon Superintendent of Broken Hill and District Hospital.  He returned to Adelaide in 1916 and was resident medical officer at the Adelaide Hospital until he enlisted. Prior to enlisting in the AIF he married Hester Lilias Berry.

Cockburn had previous experience in the AAMC Reserve in South Australia and had been posted as a Captain in the AAMC on 21st June 1916. Cockburn enlisted in the AIF on 23rd October 1916. He was 28 years old and his wife was named as his next of kin.  Her address was care of Mrs Spencer Robinson, “Willunga”, Dudley Ave Roseville, NSW. He is described as 5ft 9½ins, weighed 154lbs, of medium complexion with fair hair. He was allotted to General Reinforcements and embarked on the Orontes from Melbourne on 12th December 1916 and arrived in Plymouth, England on 20th February 1917, where he was posted to the Officer Corps School for Medical Officers. Soon after his arrival in England he was hospitalised with bronchitis.  He proceeded to France on 19th June 1917 attached to the 2 AGH. He was transferred on 29th July to the 3 Australian Division and 9 FdAmb. During this time Cockburn had several short term attachments between 9 FdAmb and 10 FdAmb. Cockburn was transferred for England on the Jan Breydal with a gunshot wound to his right elbow on 2nd January 1918. He re-joined the 10 FdAmb on 24th February 1918. He was admitted again to hospital in June 1918 with pyrexia and diagnosed later as influenza. He returned to 9 FdAmb in January 1919 and then posted back to England in March 1919 reporting to the DMS.  He was subsequently transferred from 10 FdAmb to the regular forces of the British Army for retention against the time of his return from active service.  He returned to Australia on the Suffolk in April 1919 and his appointment was terminated on 19th August 1919. He was issued with the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

Cockburn became a general practitioner in Lambton, Newcastle in New South Wales after the war.  He later separated from his wife, who remained with their son Alexander in New South Wales.  He returned to live on the family property of “Lorraine” in South Australia.  Patrick Cockburn died in February 1960 when he lived at Norwood, South Australia.

Patrick Cockburn was born on the 2nd of May 1888 at Wirrabara, South Australia. Patrick Cockburn’s father was the brother of Sir John Cockburn and was the Premier of South Australia which was from 1888 to 1890. Patrick was an only child as his parents did not want to have more than one child.

Patrick did have previous military experience as he has much experience being a captain. Patricks date of embankment was the 23rd of Dec ember in 1916 and the place of embankment was Melbourne, Australia. Patrick was educated at St Peter’s College in Adelaide. Patrick’s parents took him out of school so he could work on their own property. But Patrick didn’t want to work on their property he wanted to study medicine so Patrick’s parents sent him back to St Peters College. Patrick then studied at the University of Adelaide and graduated in 1914. Patrick became the resident medical officer at the Broken Hill and the District Hospital.

After Patrick went to Broken Hill he returned home to Adelaide in 1916 and was resident medical officer at the Adelaide Hospital until Patrick got enlisted. After Patrick enlisted in The AIF he got married to Hester Lilias Berry. Cockburn had past involvement in the AAMC Reserve in South Australia and had been posted as a Captain in the AAMC on 21st June 1916. Patrick got enlisted in the AIF on the 23rd of October 1916 Patrick was 28 years of age. Patrick was allotted to a General Reinforcements and was embarked on the Orontes which departed from Melbourne on the 12th of December 1916 and he arrived in Plymouth, England on the 20th of February 1917. While he was there he got posted to the Officer Corps School for Medical Officers. After he got to England he was hospitalised with bronchitis. Then he proceeded to France on the 19th of June 1917 and was attached to the 2 AGH. After Patrick was transferred on the 29th of July to the 3 Australian Division and the 9 FdAmb.

Patrick was then transferred to England on the Jan Breydal with a shrapnel wound on his right elbow on the 2nd of January 1918. Patrick was admitted again to the hospital in June 1918 with a pyrexia which was diagnosed later as influenza. After that he returned to the 9FdAmb in January 1919 and then went back to England in March 1919 and was reported to the DMS. Patrick was then transferred to the 10 FdAmb to the regular forces of the British Army for a retention against the time of his return. After all of that he then returned back to Australia on the Suffolk in April 1919 and he had an appointment which was terminated on the 19th of August 1919. Then Patrick was provided with the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

RSL VIRTUAL WAR MEMORIAL 2017, Google, accessed 16 June 2017, <https://rslvirtualwarmemorial.org.au/explore/people/279969>.